New government is "a recycled status quo" - Nolan
Independent TD for Laois/Offaly, Carol Nolan, has described the new government under the leadership of Simon Harris as "simply a recycled and repackaged status quo."
Speaking after the former Minister for Further and Higher Education secured 88 votes in the Dail yesterday (Tuesday) to become the nation's youngest ever Taoiseach, Deputy Nolan said she could not "in good conscience" support the vote for the new Taoiseach or support his nominations for Government ministers and ministers of state.
“I think it would be churlish not to acknowledge that this is an important and happy day for the Taoiseach, the new ministers and their families. At the political level however, I am afraid that I cannot be so generous and uncritical,” said Deputy Nolan.
“The business of government is an incredibly serious profession. It calls for a dedication that is absolutely committed to the public interest and to the subordination of optics, party infighting and political positioning.”
“I hear plenty of rhetoric about the public interest, about stability and commitment to the Programme for Government. But the cold hard fact remains that what we have seen here today is less about ‘new energy’ than it is about recycled energy.”
“The Taoiseach has taken the resources of some people, mixed them others and the result is a product that still looks exactly the same in political terms.”
“Based on precedent, I see nothing in this government capable of delivering the radical and transformative return to a vision of national sovereignty that actually listens to the people.”
“I want a government, as the saying goes, that is truly and authentically of the people, by the people, for the people. Not a government dominated by NGO’s and inner circle cliques.”
“What I see instead is a government that will continue to be embarrassed by the demands of the Irish people. I see a government where the interests of an international order will always be prioritised, be that in terms of our neutrality or indeed our immigration policy.”
“On that basis, I could support the nominations. To do would be a vote for the status quo and that is what is has brought us to the perilous place that we find ourselves in now,” concluded Deputy Nolan.